New U.S. labor chief urges immigration reform, wage increase
Source: Reuters
New U.S. labor chief urges immigration reform, wage increase
By Amanda Becker
Tue Sep 10, 2013 8:30pm EDT
(Reuters) - In his first major speech since being sworn in last week as the new U.S. labor secretary, Thomas Perez vowed on Tuesday to work with President Barack Obama for comprehensive immigration reform, a higher minimum wage and implementation of new healthcare laws.
The 51-year-old son of Dominican immigrants, Perez told Reuters in an interview that his Labor Department will be a tough labor law enforcer and pursue the kind of litigation that yielded a record $280 million in back wages for workers in 2012.
He said the department will confront income inequality and level the playing field for workers. "As we emerge from the worst recession of our lifetime, I will make it my top priority to expand opportunity," he said.
Perez spoke to more than 1,600 people gathered at the AFL-CIO convention in Los Angeles. He described a "direct relationship" between the economic security of middle-class workers and organized labor.
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/11/us-usa-perez-labor-idUSBRE98A00R20130911